Process and apparatus for producing lightweight slag



March 11, 1947. A. N. HAYES 2,417,301

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING LIGHT WEIGHT SLAG Filed March 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l M////// "5 1 v i A LB ER'T-N-HAY E 5 mvzmon BY h4 ATTORNEY March 11, 1947. A. N. HAYES PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING LIGHT WEIGHT SLAG Filed March 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ALE ERT. N. HAYES INVENTOR ATTOR NEY Patented Mar. 11, 1947 PROCESS. AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUC- ING LIGHTWEIGHT SLAG Albert N. Hayes, BirminghanL'Ala assignor to G. C.'McCull0ugh Application March 1, 1944, Serial No. 524,561

Claims. (01. up-2.5

This invention relates to the processing of molten slag to produce a relatively light weight cel lular product having great strength; and'hardness. One of the objects of my invention is to provide a method and apparatus of the character designated which shall effectively disintegrate the slag while in a molten condition without the use of moving parts. v v

A further object oi 'my invention is to provide a process and apparatusfor producing light weight cellular slag of substantially the same,

density as water granulated slag, with many times the strength thereof, and which shall be delivered from the apparatus dry. I

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a process in which molten slag and Water is cascaded through high velocity whirling currents of an elastic fluid such as. steam and in which the slag is thoroughly disintegrated and commingled with the water, air and steam to provide the desired cellular structure.

Briefly my invention consists in .cascadingmolten slag and water through high velocity whirls of steam or air which mechanically disintegrate the slag, while the water and air granulates and gives it its. cellular structure. The whirls of steam rotate substantially horizontally and pref erably, in descending sequence, alternately in opposite directions. By regulating the amount of water fed in with the molten slag, the. size of the particles of the final product may .be regulated.

The apparatus in which my improved process. is carried out comprises a vertically disposed frusrections. Steam or air at relatively high pressure, that is from 100 to 200 lbs. per sq. in., is

supplied to the nozzles to form whirls that rotate at a Very high velocity, the successive whirls rotating in opposite directions to disintegrate the slag thoroughly and mix it with the water. To better insure disintegration and mixingof the slag with water, I feed the slag into the disintegrator near the sides, andfprovide means to direct the water introduced with the slag along the wall of the chamber. As the slag falls from troughat the upper end of which'is disposed a, steam pipe having'a plurality. of openings. therein directed downwardly of the' trough which serve to thoroughly mix the hot'slag and water to complate the cooling and granulation of the slag and evaporation of the'water. Similarly, a steam 'pipel having upwardly directed openings thereinis disthe disintegrating chamber it is stillhot' and all .upperend of, the chamber. downwards.

posed at the lower endof the troughs and func- I tions to blow the slag and water upwardly for its final-cooling andevaporation of the Water.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention,

is illustrated in the-accompanying drawings forming a part of this application in which\ Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view 'ofthe ap-f paratus; l Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view IVIVofFig. 2; U I

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line v.v ofFigQZ; I A

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along theline VIV'I orFisL'2; j j

Fig. '7 isa sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of Fig. 2; and I Fig. '8 is a sectional view taken along the line" vIIL-Vm of Fig.2. w Referring to the drawings, my improved apparatus comprises a vertically disposed disin-' tegrating chamber. In which ispreferabl'y 'frustoconical in shape to compensate for the'increased' volume of the slag as it is disintegrated. Disposed around the disintegrating chamber "are successive rows of nozzles ll, [2, l3, l4, l8 and I! which are directed inwardly in a directiongim. clined to the radial as shown in Figs. 3 to 8' inclusive. It will be seen;by reference to Figs. 3 to 8 thatthenozz'les I I'and12 aredirected clockwise around the disin'tegrating chamber, the noztaken along the line L zles l3 and I 4 are directed counterclockwise there in opposite directions. It will also be seen. by

reference to Figs. 3 tot; that the nozzles are so directed as to provide whirls of progressively in creasing outer diameter and decreasing inner diameten or region of relative quiet, from the This feature compensates for the increase in volume ofthe. slag as it i'sdisinteg'rated.

Steam is supplied to the nozzles through manifolds, or bustle pipes I8, 19, 2|, 22, 23 and 24 respect'ively. While air may be employed for the purpose. steam is more economical. The mani-l folds may bemade economically as shown in Fig.

1 by successive disks such as 28 and-21 provided with openings to fit over the disintegrating chamber and Joined together by rings 28, welded at top and bottom. to the disks. Steam is supplied, to the manifold from a supply line 29 having a v regulating valve 3| therein. Preferably the steam is at a relatively high pressure, say from .100 to 200 lbs. per sq. in. to insure thorough disintegra-; tion of the slag. Branch conduits 32, 33, 34,- 36, 31 and 38 connect the supply line 29 with they manifolds.

to my 'Process is especially valuable n the making of puzzolan type cements.

whereit is engaged by the high velocity steam whirls previously described. Water is fed into thedisintegrating chamber; along with the, slag from a water supply line'l8 provided with a regulating valve 49 and terminating near thet'op of thedisinte'grating chamber as shownat 5|. 1 the mouth of the water-supply line is a bell or diffuser .52 which causes the water to be thrown to the sides of the disintegrating chamber to encounter the slag and the steam whirls and be' thoroughly mixed therewith. It is contemplated 1 1 that the water supply willbe at a pressure usually found in city mains which israround '70 lbs. per sq. inch. 1

Mounted beneath the disintegrating chamber lilis a receiving trough 53 having an;inclined bottom 54 and into which the slag and unevap-" orated waterfall from the disintegrating cham-. At this point in the process. the slag is still ,hot'but is not in a molten condition, and is of a size such as usually employed as a gregate in 5 V .4

her.

concrete mixtures. Also, a part of the water introduced with the slag has not yetybeen evaporated.., In order to granula'te the slag I- provide a steam supply pipe*58 at the upper end of the trough having' spaced holes'tl therein directed 1 downwardly iof "theftrough. Steam introduced into the pipe '56 shouldb'eiat sufiicient pressure f to lift the slag. and water andthoroughly mix the same; This action granulates th'ejslag and evaporates the water. Likewise at the lo wer end of 1 i the trough 54 I'prov'idea steam -supply pipe 58 havinga'plurality of upwardly directed holes 59 therein which lift the slag and water upwardly, blowing. it against a baiiie 6| mounted over the 1 lower end of the trough. In this manner lt'is 160 mg The completely processed slag falls on a suitabl conveyor 62 to be delivered away from finally cooled sufliciently to handle without stick- I have observed in the operation of my ima proved apparatus that a partial vacuum forms. 7 at the upper end of the disintegratingv chamber I which draws a large amount of air down with the slag and water for mixture with the slag andI am of the opinion that this feature is an important factor in theproduction of the improved product heretofore described. It also is important in pro 1 viding a safe operation in that molten slag is never thrown out of the top of the'apparatus during its operation, to endanger the workmen.

, It will accordingly be apparent that I have produced an improved process and-apparatus for the production of relatively'lightweight cellular slag which is simple and reliable of operation and which involves no moving parts subject to wear.-

WhiIeI have shown my invention in but'one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of vari-.

ous other changes and modifications, without'de -part ing from the spirit thereof, and I desire; therefore, that only such limitations shall be" placed thereupon as are specifically set forthin, the appended claims.

WhatIclaimisr l 1. Apparatus for producing relatively light weight cellular slag com ising a vertically'disposed tubular disintegrating chamber open at" both ends, a wall for the chamber and having a; plurality of rows of horizontally directed nozzles therein for admitting steam intotthe .chamber, said nozzles being disposed to pro vide a plurality ofhigh velocity vortical whirls. of steam in vertically spaced planes in the cham-,'

ber, means to supply steam under pressure to the nozzles, and means to cascade molten slag and water into the upper'end of the chamber through the steamwhirls.

2. Apparatus for producing V relatively light weight cellular'slag comprising a vertically disposed tubular disintegrating chamber, a wall for the chamber and having a plurality of rows of steam in vertically spaced planes in the chamher, the alternate whirls'rrom the top down ward rotating in 'opposite directions, means. to

supply steam under pressure to the nozzles, and

means to'cascade molten slag and water into,

the chamber through the steam whirls;

3. In apparatus for producing relatively light weight cellular slag, ajvertically disposed frusto-" conical disintegratingchamberopen at both endshaving a series of vertically spaced rows of steam nozzles extending through the wall thereof.

and directed horizontally inwardly of the ,cham

the apparatus. The steam lines156and 58are i preferably around. two inches in diameter and are provided with holes inch in diameter and spaced around 1 inches apart to provide a clean sweep of the slag and water in the trough 53.

i In the carrying out of my improved process have; found that by regulating the amount of water supplied through the water'supply line 48.

I can control the size-of the particles of finished slag; the larger the amount of water supplied,

her at an angle to the radial and tangent to imaginary circles within the chamber to produ'ce a series of high velocity vertical whirls of steam in the chamber, means tocascade molten slagand water downwardly through said whirls,

and manifolds surrounding the chamber to supply high pressure steam to the nozzles.

4. In apparatus for producin relatively lightweight'cellular slag, a vertically disposed frustoconical disintegrating chamber having-a series of vertically spaced rows of steam nozzles extending through the wall thereof and directed "inwardly of the chamber at an angle to the radial and tangent to imaginary circles within the chamber to produce a series of high velocity vortical whirls of steam rotating in vertically spaced planes in the chamber, the alternate whirls rotating in opposite directions a maniweight cellular slag, a vertically disposed frustoconical disintegrating chamber having aseries of rows of steam nozzles extending through the wall thereof and directedinwardly of the chamber at an angle to the radial to produce a series of high velocity whirls of steam in the chamber, the alternate whirls rotatingin opposite directions and being successively of lesser inner diameter from the upper end of the chamber downwardly, a manifold around each of the rows of steam nozzles for supplying high pressure thereto, means to cascade molten slag downwardly through the chamber near the wall thereof, and means to direct a stream of Water along the wall of the chamber to mix with the steam and slag.

6. In apparatus for producing relatively light weight cellular slag, a vertically disposed frustoconical disintegrating chamber having a series of rows of steam nozzles extending through the wall thereof and directed inwardly of the chamher at an angle to the radial to produce a series of high velocity whirls of steam in the chamber, the alternate whirls rotating in opposite directions and being successively of lesser inner (ii-- ameter from the upper end of the chamber downwardly, a manifold around each of the rows of steam nozzles for supplying high pressure steam thereto means to cascade molten slag downwardly through the chamber near the wall thereof, and means to direct a streamof water along the wall of the chamber to mix with the steam and slag, a downwardly inclined trough disposed beneath the disintegrating chamber, and steam nozzles in the trough for blowing the disintegrated slag down the trough as it falls from the chamber and discharge it from the apparatus.

'7. In apparatus for granulating slag, a vertically disposed tubular chamber open at both ends having a wall with a plurality of vertically spaced series of nozzles therethrough disposed at successive levels around the chamber, and directed horizontally inwardly of the chamber tangential to successive circles smaller in diameter than the chamber, means to supply steam under pressure to the nozzles, means to feed molten slag into the upper part of the chamber to fall by gravity downwardly therethrough and means to supply cooling water in the upper part of. the chamber in a stream directed toward the wall thereof,

8. The method of granulating slag which comwhirls of steam disposed to produce whirls of the materials rotating in vertically spaced planes alternately in opposite directions.

10. The process of forming light weight slag which comprises continuously feeding molten slag and-water in a freely falling manner in a confined path through a plurality of jets of steam disposed to produce vortical whirls of the materials rotating in vertically spaced planes first in one direction and then in the other.

11. The process of producing light weight slag which comprises cascading molten slag and water in a confined path through high velocity vortical whirls of steam which increase successively in diameter downwardly and rotate alternately in opposite directions in vertically spaced substantially horizontal planes.

in a confinedpaththrough high velocity vortical whirls of steam which increase successively in diameter downwardly and rotate alternately in opposite directions in vertically spaced substantially horizontal planes, and inducing a down flow of air through the whirls of steam with the slag and water. A

13. The process of producing light weight granulated slag which comprises cascading molten slag and water in a confined path through high velocity vortical whirls of steam rotating in vertically spaced substantially horizontal planes alternately in opposite directions, and blowing the thus treated slag andwater through the air for final cooling and granulation.

14. The process of producing light weight granulated slag which comprises cascading molten slag and water in a confined path through high velocity vortical whirls of steam rotating in vertically spaced substantially horizontal planes alternately in opposite directions, and then subjecting the thus falling slag andwater to jetsof steam to blow the mixture into the air for final cooling and granulation of the slag.

15. The process of producing light weight granulated slag which comprises cascading molten slag and water in a confined path through high velocity vortical whirls of steam rotating in vertically spaced substantially horizontal planes alternately in opposite directions, inducing a downflow of air with the molten slag and water, and at the lower end of the confined path subjecting the thus downwardly moving mixture to jets of steam to blow it into theair and effect The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 'Date 2,317,895 Drill Apr. 27, 1943 2,151,079 Bowen Mar. 21, 1939 2,032,827 Andrews Mar. 3, 1936- 1,699,575 Spies Jan. 22, 1929 v FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date British 1933 

